DARKYRA formed in 2012 as the solo project of Australian singer songwriter Gina Bafile, under the pseudonym DARKYRA BLACK.” The project was in collaboration with European musicians. The music had a strong cinematic vibe bordering on Progressive rock and Gothic Metal. “Life Force” is a collection of songs based around both the light and dark aspects of human nature. It is a walk through an eclectic mind, cinematic storytelling driven by the push pull of good and evil, the inner and outer demons, slaves to a virtual world yet there are those still willing to give it all for a celebrity smile. "Life Force" we see it fade slowly in the sick as they slip away, we feel the vibrancy of the youth who have time and energy to play and within our memories the fallen forever loved, sometimes felt as if they remain.

The album has ten songs, and the title track is first. The opening tones are quite cinematic. You can hear meaty bass notes and other symphonic elements, and Gina’s voice is well trained. Some of the verses need a little thickening up, but it’s off to a good start. “Take Me Far Away” has hastier and more energetic tones, and perhaps a touch of the ominous. The vocals are harmonized, and have some melancholy features, until he chorus, which has some Power Metal leanings. “Breathe” has more smooth and gentle sound, with just a bit of mystery. It feels like what you might discover on the ground underneath the morning fog. It does grow more firm however. “One Foot in the Grave” is a slower song with a distinct melancholy swing, and the vocals border on sultry.  

“Tomorrow Without You,” as you might imagine, has sentimental tones, and perhaps some regret running through it also. “Leap Before You Die” has a firmer edge, and a jovial jaunt, and those thick bass notes come through strong. The chorus is melodic, but the connection isn’t as conventional as I had hoped for. You need to work a little harder to fully receive it. “Tested the Bathwater” is a slower moving song that is more emotional in nature. At times, it sways like a willow tree in the breeze, at other times the impact is more firm, and the vocal harmonies are excellent. “Celebrity Smile” closes the album, and it’s the longest, at eight minutes. The opening has piano notes, and the sound is melancholy, and a bit tense. One thing that the band does well is use emotions in their music.

Overall, this was a solid album, that combined a bit of Goth, some cinematic vibes, and some good old emotional Rock into a cohesive whole. The best part for me was probably the vocals of Gina. They are controlled, well trained, and have a big emotional punch. She also enlisted a talented ensemble for the album.